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SEROUS FLUIDS: PLEURAL, PERITONEAL, PERICARDIAL FLUID ANALYSIS

Pleural, peritoneal and pericardial spaces contain a small amount of fluid (<2.5 ml) called serous fluid,
which is just enough to keep the membrane linings moist. Formation of fluid in these body cavities is
simultaneously controlled by four factors:

Capillary permeability
Fluid absorption by the lymphatic system
Hydrostatic pressure (i.e., blood pressure) in these capillaries
Oncotic (osmotic) pressure produced by presence of plasma proteins in these capillaries

If these four factors are normal, serous fluid does not accumulate because production and
reabsorption take place at a constant rate. If there is an abnormality in one or more of these
four factors, serous fluid does accumulate.
Definition of terms :
1.
Serous fluid fluid that has a composition similar to that of serum
2.
Effusion accumulation of fluid in a body cavity due to a pathologic process
3.
Mesothelial cells cells that cover the surface of serous membranes lining cells
Term
4.
5.
6.

Pleural
Pericardial
Peritoneal

Area
Lung
Heart
Abdominal Cavity

Fluid Collection type

Thoracentesis
Pericardiocentesis
Peritoneocentesis

7.
8.

Paracentesis general term for puncture procedure to remove fluid from a body cavity
Ascites synonymous with peritoneal fluid - ascites is serous fluid present in the peritoneal
cavity
9.
Transudates
a.
Caused by an increase in hydrostatic pressure or a decrease in plasma oncotic pressure;
fluid moves out of the vessel and into the body cavity
b.
Non-inflammatory, a protein-poor fluid is produced
c.
Associated disease states include: CHF, cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome (hypoproteinemia)
d.
Systemic, benign. Further testing is usually NOT indicated.
10. Exudates
a.
Caused by an increase in capillary permeability or decrease of absorption by lymphatics;
fluid moves out of the vessel and into the body cavity
b.
Inflammatory, a protein-rich fluid is produced
c.
Associated disease states include: infection, malignancy/neoplasm, Rheumatoid Arthritis,
trauma
d.
Localized, directly involves body cavity membranes. Further testing is indicated.
Comparison of laboratory values
turbidity
fluid-to-serum protein ratio
fluid-to-serum LD ratio
WBC cell count

Transudates
clear
<0.5
<0.6
<1000/l

Exudates
cloudy
>0.5
>0.6
>1000/l
CLS426 Body Fluid Analysis Lecture

11. WBC differential

a. Normal (benign) cells that can be seen include polymorphonuclear cells
(segmented and band neutrophils), mesothelial (lining) cells, lymphocytes,
monocyte/macrophage/histiocytes (lymphs and monos are sometimes called
mononuclear cells), eosinophils, basophils, mast cells, pyknotic cells
b. Abnormal (benign) findings include erythrophages, hemosiderin-laden
macrophages, infectious agents (bacteria, yeast eg. Cryptococcus)
c. Abnormal (malignant) cells that may be seen include blast cells, lymphoma
cells, tumor cells
d. Entire cytospin slide should be scanned on low power to look for presence of
malignant cells. Differential is done on 100x (oil).

CASE #2

SEROUS FLUID ANALYSIS - PERITONEAL

A 48-year old woman presents with ascites and pleural effusion. Blood is drawn, and 30.0 cc
of peritoneal fluid specimen is obtained by paracentesis and sent to the laboratory for evaluation.
PERITONEAL FLUID RESULTS
Physical Exam
Color:
yellow
Turbidity:
clear
Clots present: no

Microscopic Exam
Leukocyte count: 8 cells/L
PMNs
100%

Chemical Exam
Total protein: 2.9 g/dL
LD:
125 U/L
Glucose:
67 mg/dL

Gram stain: no organisms seen

BLOOD CHEMISTRY RESULTS:
Total protein:
6.5 g/dL
Lactate dehydrogenase (LD): 300 U/L
Glucose, fasting:
82 mg/dL
Liver function tests
(ALT, AST, GGT, ALP):
normal

(Reference range: 6.0 to 8.3 g/dL)

(Reference range: 275 to 645 U/L)
(Reference range: 70 to 110 mg/dL)

Cytology examination performed on peritoneal fluid: no malignant cells seen

***********************************************************************************
1. Calculate the fluid-to-serum total protein ratio.
2. Calculate the fluid-to-serum lactate dehydrogenase ratio.
3. Classify this peritoneal fluid specimen as a transudate or exudate.
4. Identify two conditions known to cause this type of effusion.
5. ____T/F Formation of the effusion in this patient could be caused by an increase in hydrostatic
pressure or a decrease in oncotic pressure.

CLS426 Body Fluid Analysis Lecture

CASE #3

SEROUS FLUID ANALYSIS - PLEURAL

A 51-year old man with a history of tuberculosis presents with a unilateral pleural effusion. A
pleural fluid specimen is obtained by thoracentesis and sent to the laboratory for evaluation.

PLEURAL FLUID RESULTS

Physical Exam
Color:
yellow
Turbidity:
cloudy
Clots present: yes

Microscopic Exam
Leukocyte count: 1100 cells/L
Differential count:
Monocytes:
57%
Lymphocytes
40%
PMNs:
3%

Chemical Exam
Total protein: 4.2 g/dL
LD:
345 U/L
Glucose:
55 mg/dL

Gram stain: no organisms seen; leukocytes present

BLOOD CHEMISTRY RESULTS
Total protein:
7.0 g/dL
Lactate dehydrogenase (LD): 520 U/L
Glucose, fasting:
75 mg/dL

(Reference range: 6.0 to 8.3 g/dL)

(Reference range: 275 to 645 U/L)
(Reference range: 70 to 110 mg/dL)

***********************************************************************************
1. Calculate the fluid-to-serum total protein ratio.
2. Calculate the fluid-to-serum lactate dehydrogenase ratio.
3. Classify this pleural fluid specimen as a transudate or exudate.
4. Identify two conditions known to cause this type of effusion.
5. Of what significance is the differential count and gram stain in this particular case?
6. Of what significance is the presence of clots in this specimen?

CLS426 Body Fluid Analysis Lecture